Best Gaming Keyboards 2018

Gaming keyboards have become a lot more common than you might believe; especially now the mechanical switches are easily available in the market, and there is no longer Cherry’s monopoly going on, people can buy mechanical keyboards for as low as $50, or even lower if you find some good deals. There was a time when the market simply did not have enough options so you were forced to spend a lot of money, however, things have changed now as there are countless options available for you to choose from.

Still, this creates confusion among those who just want to have their hands on a good gaming keyboard. That is why in this list, we will be discussing some of the best gaming keyboards that you can buy from the market right now. The last will cater to the higher end models, as well as the cheaper ones available, so you really do not have to worry about anything as far as the variety is concerned. We are keeping the list short to avoid any further confusions among the users.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s go ahead and have a look at the best gaming keyboards, shall we?

The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum has been the fan favourite for some time; the keyboard is everything a gamer could want. For starters, it uses German Cherry MX switches, and comes in Cherry MX Speed (Silver) or Cherry MX Brown switches. I wish the company had included more switch types for those who prefer to have a choice, but that’s okay. The keyboard is one of the more expensive options available in the market, if you budget is not an issue, definitely check this one out.

The first thing that will wow you about this keyboard is that RGB; the lighting is just stunning, and aside from that, it also happens to be consistent. Aside from the standard set of keys, the media keys, Corsair logo, as well as a light bar on top. In addition to that, kudos to Corsair for using aircraft grade aluminum to make sure the construction of this keyboard is solid with zero flex. Last but not the least, the per key lighting customization is to die for.

I do have minor gripes with the keyboard though, for starters, the iCUE software takes some time getting used to, and despite being an expensive keyboard, the key caps on this keyboard are still made out of ABS plastic. Corsair does sell PBT double shot key caps for their keyboard lineup, but they cost an additional $40, which ultimately hikes the price of the keyboard to an unrealistic territory.

Other than the minor gripes I have with the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum, everything else about it is top-notch, and I honestly can’t complain about it at all.

Must Have

Stunning RGB Lights

iCue is difficult to learn

Available in Cherry MX Brown, and Speed switches

Key caps are made of ABS Plastic

Solid construction with zero flex

Per Key Lighting Customization

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I will be honest here, Havit is a company that not a lot of people are aware of. However, ever since mechanical keyboards became a common thing, the company started releasing budget friendly mechanical keyboards that would get the job done, and will not cost a lot of money either. Today, we look at the Havit HV-KB390L, a low profile, TKL mechanical keyboard that is built for people who do not want to spend a lot of money on a gaming keyboard.

The Havit HV-KB390L is probably the cheapest keyboard in the market, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is budget friendly, low profile, and can be carried anywhere you prefer. In addition to that, it also offers full N-key roll-over, so you really do not have to worry about pressing all the keys at the same time. It comes with backlit option with 5 different profiles for lighting, although, the lighting is not RGB, which is fine given the price tag, and last but not the least, you also get a detachable USB cable, which is a great thing considering how this laptop is built for people who want to be able to travel with the keyboard.

Although the HV-KB390L is a capable keyboard, I just wish it included a wrist rest, along with some more customization options. If you are okay with the lack of wrist rest, and the fact that you cannot customize the keyboard the way you want to, then the Havit HV-KB390L is a great option.

Budget Pick

The keyboard is comfortable to type on.

There is no added wrist rest.

Does not weight a lot.

The keyboard lacks customization options.

Backlighting can be customized to some extent.

The USB cable is detachable.

512 Reviews Last Update on 2018-11-19 at 09:44 using Amazon Product Advertising API

There is no denying that Corsair has an impressive portfolio of gaming keyboards, or other peripherals in their list. However, the keyboard I am reviewing right now might be peculiar for a lot of people simply because this is not a mechanical keyboard. If you know Corsair, you would know that the company has enjoyed their time in the market with some of the highest end keyboards that cost a lot of money, simply because they were using Cherry MX switches. Corsair finally decided to cater to the audience on budget, and released the K55 RGB; a membrane keyboard that actually is an amazing value for money.

Right from the get go, I have to tell you that this keyboard poses an excellent value for money; I was surprised to see Corsair include a wrist-rest that could be detached in this price tag. The keyboard follows a rather simplistic approach, giving it the right kind of professional look, which is great because you do not want your colleagues to look at you weirdly. Now the RGB part on the keyboard is certainly true, but there is a catch; the Corsair K55 RGB uses zone RGB rather than per key, which in theory is a lot cheaper to implement. Sure, it does not give you the same cohesive element you would get from per-key backlighting, but Corsair’s implementation makes it look stunning.

I do have some gripes though; for starters, the keyboard is constructed out of plastic with no metal pieces; this introduces a lot of flex, and lastly, the rubber dome switches can add finger fatigue as well, something that is a glaring issue in all the membrane keyboard.

I personally believe that these small issues are not enough to make someone choose a different keyboard. For the way it is priced, I personally think that Corsair K55 RGB is a great keyboard for those who are not all about the mechanical switches.

Also Great

Corsair K55 RGB gives excellent value for money.

The full plastic construction is not the best.

The zone RGB looks fantastic.

Rubber dome switches can cause finger fatigue.

The keyboard looks professional, and minimalistic.

The detachable wrist rest is an added benefit.

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I have always seen Kingston as a company focused on storage, and memory, but when they decided to foray into the peripheral market, I was shocked and excited at the same time. The company launched a slew of products under their HyperX branding, and managed to garner quite a lot of of success too. As a matter of fact, their HyperX Cloud headset is among the best gaming headset I have used till date. Today, however, I am looking at the HyperX Alloy Elite, a rather striking mechanical keyboard that uses Cherry MX switches, and follows a very familiar design language.

I will be honest, if it weren’t for the branding, I’d mistake this as a Corsair keyboard; this is not a bad thing, it is good to see companies borrowing the best elements from each other without blatantly ripping each other off. The HyperX Alloy Elite looks stunning. You get full layout with solid construction, dedicated media keys, and the fan favourite volume wheel that is just too good to use. As I have mentioned before, the keyboard uses Cherry MX switches, and comes in blue, red, and brown options. Needless to say, typing, and gaming on this keyboard is an absolute treat, just what you would expect from a mechanical keyboard with Cherry switches. However, the one thing I loved the most about this keyboard was the comfortable wrist rest that looked futuristic, but was super functional.

What I did not understand about this keyboard was the lack of macro programming, and an awfully thick cable. Sure, you are going or quality, and a cable that does not break, but you do need to understand that thicker cables are usually on the difficult side when it comes to routing.

Also Great

Trusted Cherry MX switches.

Cable is awkwardly thick.

Great build quality.

There is no macro programming.

Amazing wrist rest.

Dedicated media keys, with volume wheel.

134 Reviews Last Update on 2018-11-19 at 11:04 using Amazon Product Advertising API

Overall, the HypeX Alloy Elite is a great gaming keyboard that serves the purpose just fine for anyone who wants a great mechanical keyboard. The selection of Cherry MX switches is also a great option. As long as you are okay with a lack of macro programming, this keyboard should serve you well. HyperX Alloy Elite is for people who want a mechanical keyboard, but without extra flare like RGB.

Razer is a company that is well known in the gaming community. So much so that many gamers have gone to the extent of calling them the first company to introduce gaming peripherals. For a long time, Razer has been synonymous with expensive peripherals, however, they have finally come to the realisation that a huge market is also looking for budget oriented peripherals, and that is where the Razer Cynosa Chroma comes in. This membrane keyboard combines the best bits about Razer keyboards, and reduces the cost at the same time.

The biggest benefit of Razer Cynosa Chroma over the competition is the fact that it offers per key RGB illumination. While this is certainly a feature that is available in all mechanical keyboards, the Cynosa Chroma is the first membrane keyboard to give you this feature, and I have to say, the lighting looks stunning. Another great thing about the keyboard is that it features a spill resistant design, and in addition to that, the price tag is on the inexpensive side, so you really do not have to worry about the keyboard being too expensive. The build quality is decent enough for the price tag, but due to an all plastic construction, the flex is certainly there. Another noteworthy addition is the Razer Synapse, which in my opinion is the best software suite for peripherals; it is intuitive, easy to use, and does not confuse you with unnecessary menus.

Also Great

The individually lit backlighting looks amazing.

Membrane switches mean there is going to be some finger fatigue.

Razer Synapse remains a treat to use.

No macro keys.

The keyboard looks great.

Excellent value for money.

Spill resistant design.

269 Reviews Last Update on 2018-11-19 at 11:04 using Amazon Product Advertising API

There is not much to dislike about the Razer Cynosa Chroma to be honest; the membrane keys can certainly give fatigue to your fingers and the fact that this keyboard does not come with additional macro keys is something that happens to be a drawback for many people. Other than that, everything else about the Razer Cynosa Chroma is spot on, and I think it happens to be a great value for money.

Fans of Razer would love this keyboard as it combines the best RGB implementation in a nice package

Conclusion

For a lot of people, buying a gaming keyboard is a lot more difficult for some people. Sure, there are so many options in the market, but these options normally end up causing confusion. With this article, we aim to ensure that the readers who are looking to buy a gaming keyboard do not have any issue buying one. The keyboards have been tested thoroughly, and only then they have been added into the list.

We hope that you have an easier time deciding what gaming keyboard you are looking for, and then make the purchase as it would be much easier for you, and you would end up with a great gaming keyboard for yourself.